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Freshford Manor, Freshford, England

Record Id: 1374

Originally the site was a joint manorship of Robert and Alrick, where Robert lived in a small manor house. Before the dissolution, the Countess of Salisbury, who had founded the Hinton Priory, gave the property to the Carthusians.

However, Henry VIII took the estate for crown property during the dissolution. He then gave it to various lords for services rendered. Eventually the Methuens came to live at the property. In the early 19th century, Sir William Napier rented the property from the Methuens.

Before the 20th century, much of Freshford village was owned by the inhabitants of the manor, but over the years the size was considerably reduced to around 1.4 hectares. In 1955, it was around 4.8 hectares, which included a walled kitchen garden which was sold separately.

When the present owners bought the property in 1956 it was derelict. They have done much to improve the garden, retaining the 19th century concrete reproductions of lead statues that lead to the rockery. The lawn was not terraced before 1956, but was merely a steep bank to the rockery and boundary wall. There has also been much planting since the 1950s. The conservatory (built 1860-70) has been retained. Nearby on the house wall there are some magnolias which may be 150 years old or more.

Features

tree avenue

Lime avenue.

drive

terrace

Feature created: After 1956

summerhouse

The summerhouse may be a converted icehouse.

rockery

garden table

The stone table is possibly late 18th or early 19th century in date. It is a large stone slab approximately 3.6 metres x 1.8 metres. It stands on six stone legs.

Designation status:
The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building
Designation Grade II

conservatory

Feature created: 1860 to 1870

An example of Victorian glass and iron work with a timber base.

sundial

Feature created: 1800

On the eastern elevation of the house there is a sundial, built around 1800.